What Type Of Motorcycle Should You Be Riding?

“Hey, nice Harley!” “How fast does your crotch rocket go?” “Can you do a burnout on that hog?” Yes, these are some of the dreaded inquiries most avid motorcyclists fear. It would seem as though there are really only two genres of motorcycles that exist in the United States: crotch rockets and Harleys. The former is an outlandish caricature, while the latter is simply a well-marketed brand name that has somehow become synonymous with the word motorcycle. If you’re a beginner motorcycle rider looking for an identity, we’re here to tell you that the motorcycle classification tree has many more branches than the average American would expect. We’ve broken down all of the motorcycle families we could think of to make it easier to find your first ride.

Sport bike

Yes, the quintessential “crotch rocket” of our time. That obtuse label receives its origins from the fact that sport bikes are designed so that the rider is hunched over the bike, balls against the tank, holding on to clip-ons rather than traditional handlebars. The “rocket” portion comes from the fact that some sport bikes are equipped with highly powerful engines. The typical 600-1000cc sport bike with full bodywork is designed for the track and receives most of its engineering with racing or track use in mind. They’re lightweight, handle corners like a carving knife and have high-revving power plant engines. On the downside, sport bikes like the Suzuki GSXR 750 are not ideal for long trips due to the cramped riding position and lack of adequate storage space. If you have a need for speed and plan on doing lots of track days or racing, then you’re going to be shopping for one of these bad boys.

Cruiser

At the other end of the spectrum lies the cruiser, which is so emblazoned with Harley fanfare that all other brands seem to be nonexistent. We know that Harley Davidson is the American classic, but we also know that so many riders buy into the image of riding one that the orange and black colors seem to engulf all within this genre. As evident in the movie Easy Rider, cruisers are for those who want to sit back and taste the freedom. Large, comfortable seats, wide, high handlebars and oodles of weight make cruisers the definitive couch on wheels. But Harley is not the only manufacturer of cruisers. Just look at the Honda VTX line as a start. Choppers also belong to the cruiser family and have grown increasingly popular thanks to the boneheads on American Choppers. Choppers are purely for show, sporting radical geometry and unconventional style. If you want to sit back and enjoy the ride, then a cruiser is the way to go.

Naked/Standard

One of the most obscure genera of motorcycles is the naked, or standard. It looks like a sport bike at certain angles, but where did all the bodywork go? Why are the handlebars upright like a dirt bike, and what’s up with the large, comfortable seat? The naked motorcycle really hit the limelight back in the '80s, when Eddie Lawson raced the beastly Kawasaki KZ1000R, which revealed a hellish inline-four engine, Kerker megaphone exhaust and minimal lime-green bodywork. The allure of the standard is that riders get sport bike power with cruiserlike comfort. Standards excel in versatility for that reason and can handle longer trips with the ability to intimidate track riders with tuned-up power and confident handling in the twisties. The Kawasaki ZRX1200R is one of the most beloved and multifaceted standards on the planet. Styled after Eddie’s liter bike, the ZRX is a torque monster that’s comfortable to ride, and one look at the green monster might transform you into a naked freak.

Next, three more types of bike give you every reason to go out and buy one...